TFS#217 - Kiyo (500k+ Followers) How To Make A Full-Time Income As An Anime Cosplayer

THE FLIP SIDE with Andy Mai

Kiyo is a skilled cosplayer known for her intricate designs and vibrant portrayals. She shares stunning cosplay, behind-the-scenes moments, and exclusive content on Patreon and OnlyFans. Her passion and humor make her a standout in the cosplay and streaming community.

https://www.instagram.com/kiyocosplay

https://x.com/kiyocosplay

https://www.tiktok.com/@kiyocosplay

0:00 - Intro

0:48 - Meet Kiyo

1:49 - How Kiyo started cosplaying

2:41 - Kiyo’s focus in the past six months

2:51 - Making money at cosplay events

4:57 - Turning cosplay into a career

5:45 - Kiyo’s paid offline event gigs

6:11 - How overseas cosplay events work

7:38 - Can anyone cosplay?

8:24 - Promoting cosplay events

9:18 - Growing her Patreon

10:16 - Growing her online community

11:26 - Top figures in the cosplay scene

13:02 - Fan interactions at events

13:51 - Going unrecognized in cosplay

14:29 - How people find cosplay influencers

15:30 - Using Instagram vs. Twitter

16:58 - Cosplaying for the next 20 years?

17:39 - Focus on offline event gigs

19:48 - Attending cosplay events in Japan

20:46 - What Kiyo wears while streaming

21:24 - Where her livestream audience is from

22:59 - Creating OnlyFans content

24:09 - Monthly cosplay character creation

24:52 - OnlyFans vs. Instagram content

25:19 - Do cosplayers get breast augmentations?

26:22 - Do cosplayers edit their photos?

27:30 - AI cosplayer Instagram accounts

28:17 - Why it’s rude to say a cosplayer looks different in real life

28:58 - Demographics of her audience

29:50 - Kiyo’s partner preferences

30:33 - Ex-boyfriend’s thoughts on cosplay

31:21 - Family’s thoughts on cosplay

32:27 - Custom content on OnlyFans

32:58 - Patreon vs. OnlyFans

33:19 - Subscriber retention rates

34:24 - How subscribers use exclusive photos

35:53 - Why some dislike nude content

37:08 - How top 0.001% on OnlyFans earn millions

39:10 - Why Kiyo avoids nude content

39:53 - Preparing for photoshoots

40:51 - Free videography for female influencers

41:32 - Working with cosplay photographers

43:00 - Creepy photographers in cosplay

45:08 - Custom content for OnlyFans

46:54 - Not relying only on Patreon & OnlyFans

47:46 - How booths work at events

49:40 - When guys buy her photo printouts

50:13 - Andy’s neighbor stalking him

52:27 - Selling photo printouts at events

53:27 - Andy’s experience w/ World Vision girl asking for a donation

54:39 - Are cosplay girls charismatic?

55:32 - Instagram posting schedule

56:50 - Photographer edits her photos

57:55 - Are anime fans also simps?

58:18 - Picking characters to cosplay

1:00:04 - Favorite anime

1:00:57 - Preparing costumes

1:02:08 - Following cosplay trends

1:03:02 - Managing photoshoots locally & overseas

1:08:18 - What she does during slow business periods

1:10:12 - Handling financial stress

1:11:42 - Hobbies during downtime

1:12:32 - Realizing Andy was Australian

1:12:57 - Attending a Sydney cosplay event

1:15:37 - 500K+ followers, top in SEA

1:17:14 - Characters cosplayed in Sydney

1:17:31 - Cosplaying Vtuber, anime, and gacha game characters

1:19:22 - How Vtubers work

1:21:11 - What got her into Vtubing & why she stopped

1:21:44 - Do Vtubers reveal their faces?

1:22:21 - Ironmouse & streaming with a chronic illness

1:24:29 - Recent life discoveries

1:25:52 - Weekly schedule

1:26:23 - Motivation to create more content

1:27:36 - Personal goals for the next six months

1:29:53 - Most popular cosplayer: Enako

1:30:12 - Connect with Kiyo

1:31:59 - Outro